62% of women suffer from dark spots and want to find solutions that "really work". The good news is that scientists have just discovered a promising new molecule. Let's talk about it!

Whether due to UV exposure, medication, perfume or simply hormonal variations (adolescence, pregnancy, the pill, menopause treatment), hyperpigmentation spots affect us all and can quickly ruin our lives.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY SKIN?

It's a chain reaction," explains Dr. Nicolas B., "UV rays, hormones and sometimes even certain medications (over)activate tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the production of melanin (the pigment responsible for tanning). The melanin produced in excess is then released in a disorganized manner by the melanocytes to the keratinocytes on the skin's surface, creating the famous dark spot. 

Fortunately, research is advancing to offer ever more effective solutions!

A NEW MOLECULE IS CAUSING A STIR IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY: TRANEXAMIC ACID

"When dermatologists need to treat hyperpigmentation, they often turn to hydroquinone, an extremely effective molecule that also has many side effects (allergies, eczema and sometimes even irreversible total depigmentation). The practitioner then has to strike a complex balance: being effective enough, without being too aggressive for the skin, at the risk of provoking the opposite of the desired effect, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

He can then turn to other well-tolerated molecules that have proven to be as effective as hydroquinone. The best known is Niacinamide. Niacinamide has been the subject of hundreds of scientific publications, because if sufficiently dosed (at least 5%), it effectively blocks the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes.

Scientists are particularly interested in a brand new molecule: Tranexamic Acid. This molecule is basically an oral medication which has been used for many years for its coagulant properties. Its lightening properties on pigmentation spots were recently discovered by doctors and are the subject of a growing number of scientific studies. They all demonstrate that Tranexamic Acid is not only very well tolerated, but is as effective as hydroquinone. Its action, at the very start of the hyperpigmentation mechanism (upstream of tyrosinase), makes it highly complementary to Niacinamide, which acts further down the hyperpigmentation chain (on the transfer of melanin to the skin surface).

According to Dr. Nicolas B., a dermatologist specializing in skin aging, this is a major breakthrough in the treatment of dark spots, because, combined with high-dose Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid will truly block the hyperpigmentation process, for rapidly visible results. However, this new treatment will only be truly effective if the patient applies SPF 50 PA +++ every morning, which protects against UV rays (and blue light).

^1st BASIC TREATMENT: PREVENT DARK SPOTS WITH ANTI-UV CARE

Suppress stimuli that trigger the tyrosinase enzyme, responsible for melanin overproduction:

• UV: as 90% of UV rays penetrate clouds, it's essential to apply an anti-UV shield SPF 50 PA +++ every day, even on overcast, rainy days. Be careful, even exposing your hands to the sun behind the windscreen while driving a car is enough to trigger a reaction!
• Photosensitizing products such as perfume, alcohol, antiseptics, certain essential oils (bergamot, cedar, lime, lavender, vanilla) and ketoprofen in certain anti-inflammatory gels.
• Taking certain oral medications can also cause pigmentation problems on all parts of the body exposed to the sun: antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-acne medication or the contraceptive pill... maximum UV protection (SPF 50 PA ++) applied several times a day is then essential.